Azmin: BR1M is bribery, BN failed to empower the people

SHAH ALAM: The 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) payouts initiated by the Barisan Nasional administration are laced with elements of political bribery and have failed to empower the people.

Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (PKR-Bukit Antarabangsa) said this was unlike the state government which had help to raise the people’s standard of living.

He said BR1M was based on wrong principles, because it was aimed at garnering votes in the general election.

“That is why I said there are elements of political bribery. This is different from Selangor. We do not bribe the people with cash. We empower them so that they can stand on their own feet,” he said.

“It is proven that the Umno-led government failed to uplift the B40 group (bottom 40 per cent of households with monthly incomes of RM3,900 and below).

“The Pakatan Harapan government is ensuring that the B40 group is given the chance to be elevated to M40 (middle 40 per cent of households with monthly incomes of between RM3,860 and RM8,319).

“But, Umno did not do this. Giving cash does not solve problems. We must empower the rakyat, especially the B40,” said Azmin during a debate on the motion of thanks for Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s royal address.

Azmin’s mention of Umno led Datuk Shamsuddin Lias (BN-Sungai Burong) to interject, saying that it was the former’s negative perception and asked for proof of his claims.